Barcelona want to sign ‘unbelievable’ Liverpool player, but may get £12m Arsenal man instead 

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Barcelona remain interested in taking Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara on a free transfer.

Thiago – who still hasn’t played this season due to injury – will be out of contract at the end of the current season. Rumours were rife that the Spaniard would leave Liverpool in the summer, but Thiago rebuffed all offers in order to stay at Anfield.

Next year may be a different story though, and ESPN report that former club Barcelona are ready to pounce and sign the 32-year-old.

The Spanish giants are reportedly having to target low-cost options to bolster their midfield. As a result, manager Xavi is said to have Thiago in his list of potential signings.

Joining the Liverpool man in that shortlist is reportedly a trio of other players, too. Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich appears to be the main choice, but the German is claimed to be a more expensive option. Arsenal’s £12m man Jorginho and Guido Rodriguez of Real Betis are said to be two more possibilities for Xavi.

Thiago linked with Barca return

With Barcelona needing a cheap midfielder and Thiago out of contract, this is a pretty straightforward link. Just how much truth there is in it, we’ll have to wait and see.

For the time being, you can’t imagine that Liverpool’s No.6 will still be on the books at Anfield next season.

If he gets fit, stays fit and performs well between now and May, then that may change, though.

Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen to keep him around, and Thiago certainly does still have plenty more to offer Liverpool.

As Nat Phillips said back in 2021 [liverpoolfc.com], the Spain international is an ‘unbelievable’ footballer, there’s no denying that. The prospect of seeing him in this new-look Liverpool midfield is still one fans will be looking forward to until it finally happens.

But his fitness is a glaring issue, and as one of the top-earners at the club, getting his wages off the books could be huge for the Reds next summer.

So, plenty to weigh up. But there’s no denying that the lure of a return to the club he started his career at would be a big one for Thiago.